CANS Advice Notes – www.cans.org.uk
ISSN No. 1747-6240
Published by the CANS Trust (registered charity no. 803343)
English, Welsh & Scottish legislation explained
Administration of Justice
Treatment Of Offenders
52 Maximum fines: the “standard scale” 
Frequently, the maximum level of a fine for a particular offence will be fixed by law by reference to a particular level on the “standard scale” . This scale, which applies only to summary offences, is contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1982 s.37 as substituted by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 s.17 (for England and Wales), and the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 s.225 (for Scotland).
The current levels on the standard scale are
Level 1 | £200 |
Level 2 | £500 |
Level 3 | £1,000 |
Level 4 | £2,500 |
Level 5 | £5,000 |
Sometimes, the maximum fine that may be imposed for an offence is stated to be “not exceeding the statutory maximum” . The statutory maximum is £5,000 (Criminal Justice Act 1982, s.74 as amended and as read with the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 s.32(9) (for England and Wales) and £10,000 (for Scotland) (Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 s.225(8) as amended).
The maximum fine that may be imposed on a child (i.e., under the age of 14) is £250; and on a young person (i.e., under the age of 17) is £1,000 (Magistrates Court Act 1980 ss.24 and 36).